Download My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand

SONG OF SONGS 5:10 – Jesus, Transcendent in Beauty and Power
-Jeff Mootz (4/1/12)
My beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand.
I.
INTRODUCTION
A.
The bride begins her description of Jesus with a general statement of His beauty and then she compares
His beauty to other beloveds. She follows this general statement with ten detailed statements of His
beauty and His leadership qualities. The confession of her heart is that Jesus is her beloved, even in the
midst of mistreatment. She concludes her descriptions of Jesus with another general statement in 5:16.
She concludes that He is altogether lovely. Everything about Him is lovely and worth loving and
trusting with all of our hearts.
B.
He is her beloved and there is no other person or love that compares to Him. She calls Him her
beloved, the lover of her soul. He is the one love of her life, the beloved Jesus. The bride is lovesick
for her beloved. All the descriptions she lists are based out of her Bridegroom experience with Jesus.
She ends up being deeply touched by each heart characteristics that she notices in the Lord. Every
facet of the Lord awakens love in the human heart. He reveals His desire and His intentions in all that
He does. He fascinates us with aspects of His glory and transcendence. He causes our hearts to rest in
trust as He reveals His supreme ability.
C.
We must interpret the Song of Songs through the lens of other scriptures. The verses in this book must
be interpreted through passages in the Old Testament and the New Testament because much of it is
symbolic of other things. Many of the verses in this book reveal clear themes, of which can be
grounded on other scriptures.
D.
Chapter fiver has many symbolic descriptions of Jesus that can be found throughout all of scripture in
great detail. We can research each description in this chapter and see what the symbols mean in the
Bible to get an understanding of the passage. There could be a number of edifying interpretations to
each of these verses. Some interpretations seem to be clearer in scripture than other interpretations and
more edifying than others.
II.
MY BELOVED IS WHITE
A.
This word literally means dazzling, bright or brilliant. He is brilliant in His beauty and He has
displayed Himself in a glory that has real physical properties.
1.
Physical Beauty - He displays His inner beauty in external glory. He has clothed Himself with
a glorious robe of uncreated light that shines upon those in the presence of His throne. He has
set a covering or canopy of light around Him that even protects us from His light. He is filled
with colors and beauty and He has portrayed Himself exactly how He wanted. There are colors
and depths of colors that we have never seen on the earth. His white light is unlike any light
we have ever experienced. His light is of another order. He is the desirer, designer and creator
of all beauty. He is beautiful and glorious in His light. Light comes from within Him. His
light is filled with the revelation of God as it pierces the heart. It has power and fragrances in
it. It is the most magnificent light. He dwelled in the uncreated glory of God before creation.
The heavenly host and the four living creatures gaze at Him and His light. Waves of light
come forth from Him and those in heaven fall down in worship. He was the light that existed
before the creation of the visible realm. He declared His identity as the light of the world.
Each ray of light and each color that comes from Him reveals an inner beauty of His heart.
(Psalm 104:1-3, Revelation 4:3-4, Isaiah 4:2, 1 Timothy 6:16, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Revelation
21:23, John 1:3)
2. Purity - He is white in the purity of His works. He is literally dazzling. He is white in purity.
There is no speck of darkness or impurity in Him. He is pure in every thought, emotion, desire and
deed. Robes in the Bible speak of deeds and works done in the body. His robe is dazzling in pure
white brilliance. His deeds are pure. He is filled with good works to the just and the unjust. He
wrapped Himself in the garment of humanity and walked a sinless life. His human body died like a
seed and was raised as a glorified body in splendor and brightness because of His life of obedience
on the earth. He obeyed even to the point of death.
(Ecclesiastes 9:8, Revelation 19:8, Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:3, Jude 1:23, Revelation 3:4-5, 3:1718, 4:4, 16:5, ).
III.
MY BELOVED IS RUDDY
A.
Ruddy literally means red. It means healthy or full of life. David was young, hansom and anointed
and he was referred to as ruddy. This term is often used to describe the color of healthy skin or to
describe something that had an abundance of health and life. Jesus is full of life. He is vibrant and
healthy in all of His attributes and abilities. His spirit is vibrant with the life of God.
(1 Samuel 16:12, Lamentations 4:7)
B.
His emotions are rich and abundant. His mind and body are full of energy to love and awaken love in
all of creation. He came with vibrancy in His heart as a Man on the earth. He came to satisfy the
hungry and thirsty with living waters but He Himself is filled with living waters that have an eternal
source. He is fully satisfied within Himself. He is lacking nothing. Jesus has the fullness of joy and
pleasure and is fully satisfied. He promised life abundantly. He is filled with divine pleasures. Peace,
joy, love, delight and intimacy are parts of the divine pleasures. His emotions and pleasures towards
us are abundant and filled with life. His emotional chemistry is rich and healthy.
(Psalm 16:11, John 10:10, John 7:37, John 4:14, 6:33, Philippians 4:7)
C.
Jesus is able to give eternal life to the dead. He has an eternal source of life to give to created order.
He has the power within Himself to raise people from the dead and cause them to live forever. He
desires to live with us forever in perfected bodies and intimate communion. (John 6:40, 5:21)
D.
He has the life source in Himself to sustain the entire universe. He spoke words and the universe was
created. He speaks words and the universe is renewed with life. His creative power comes from the
life source that is in Him. The life that was created came from the life that was within Him. He is the
Prince of life. Jesus desires life. He loves to sustain the created order. He serves the universe by
upholding it.
(Genesis 1:3, John 1:2-3, Hebrews 1:3, Acts 3:15)
IV.
MY BELOVED IS CHIEF
A. Chief literally means distinguished, preeminent, superior or a banner. It is a term describing the highest
rank or position. To be preeminent means to have the most distinguished rank, dignity or importance.
Chief can also refer to a banner that is lifted up among the people. He is the most distinguished Man in the
entire universe. He is far above all comparisons. He is transcendent and nothing compares to Him in any
attribute. He is distinguished among creation as the most beautiful One and as the highest One in
authority. He is the Chief leader.
B. To be transcendent means to be beyond the limits of ordinary experience or beyond the limits of all
possible experience and knowledge. He is in an eternal order that far surpasses us as created beings. We
do not have the capacity to fully understand or perceive His beauty. He gives us traces of understanding
but we will forever search Him out. He is the most distinguished being in every category. Our hearts were
made by Him to marvel and to wonder in the revelation of His beauty. His beauty is like a diamond. The
diamond has many facets to it as it is turned and as light hits it at different angles. We receive little bits of
revelation about many facets of Jesus’ beauty as the Spirit shines light on something. We will continue to
see new angles throughout our lives. Also, we will see deeper and deeper into each aspect that we have
searched out before.
C. Jesus is the most distinguished in many categories. This is not an exhaustive list.
1.
He is the Chief of Beauty.
2.
He is the Chief of the Resurrected order.
3.
He is the Chief of Authority over heaven and earth.
4.
He is the Chief Administrator of the Plans of God.
5.
He is the Chief Conqueror and Chief of the Army of God.
6.
He is the Chief Musician and Worship Leader.
7.
He is the Chief Apostle.
8.
He is the Chief Intercessor and High Priest.
9.
He is the Chief Cornerstone of the house of God.
10.
He is the Chief Shepherd of the flock of God.
1. He is the Chief of Beauty
A.
Jesus is the most distinguished Man among all of heaven and earth. He is highest in rank when
it comes to beauty. He is uncreated but fully Man as well. There is no other created thing like
Him. He is transcendent in every way and incomparable in everyway. He could stand among
the billions of angels, humans and creatures and stand out as the most beautiful One. He is
transcendent and unlike any created thing. There is no measurable end to His supreme beauty.
Jesus is truly Chief among all of all created order in His beauty. All attention and desire is
directed towards Him in heaven. It will be the same on the earth in the next age.
B.
He is the most fascinating being in the universe. We fall to the floor when we get a glimpse of
His beauty. All throughout history people have fallen before angels but how much more have
they fallen before the glorified Lord? The heavenly host falls to the ground when the beauty of
God breaks out upon them. Every being in the heavenly city is constantly enraptured with
Jesus and is fueled in fascination minute by minute with the same. His beauty causes the
human race to lay down everything for His sake. His beauty brings forth loving sacrifice all
over the earth.
(Psalm 145:5, Psalm 27:4, Isaiah 4:2, Isaiah 55:8-9, Revelation 5:12, Philippians 3:8,
Psalm 27:4, Revelation 1:17, Acts 9:3)
C.
Jesus is higher than us in every aspect of His nature. Moses cried to see the glory of God. God
answered his prayer by proclaiming His name to Him. Moses had to be covered and held
against a rock to sustain the power of the proclamation of the heart of God. His heart is
beautiful.
(Psalm 145:5, Psalm 27:4, Isaiah 4:2, Isaiah 55:8-9, Revelation 5:12, Philippians 3:8)
2. He is the Chief of Authority
He humbled Himself to the lowest place by coming as a Man and serving all creation by dying on the
cross. His Father then exalted Him to the highest place over all creation. He has become the Chief
authority in the heavenly and earthly realms for all of history. The Father declared in Psalm 2 that He
had chosen and set His Son Jesus as King on His holy hill. It was the Father’s choice to have His Son
rule the created order. Jesus displayed true leadership and authority by coming so low as to live in a
human body and to serve all of creation on the cross. His Father exalted Him from His humble
position. His Father gave Him legal authority over everything. There is not one thing in the entire
universe that Jesus does not know about or have legal authority over.
(Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 2:9-10, Psalm 45, Psalm 110, Zechariah 6, Revelation 19, Isaiah 9:6,
Luke 1:32, Acts 2:33, Matthew 28:18, Revelation 5:1-14, Daniel 7:13-14, Acts 5:31, Hebrews 12:2,
Judges 20:2)
3. He is the Chief of the Resurrected Order
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an
innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn (Resurrection),
who are registered in heaven” (Heb 12:23)
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (has rights to the inheritance as the firstborn
Son) over all creation……who is the beginning (Chief in Rank), the firstborn from the dead (Of the
Resurrected Order).” (Col 1:15-18)
“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings
of the earth.” (Rev 1:5)
“But he shall acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double
portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength, the right of the firstborn (First to
inherit) is his.” (Deuteronomy 21:17)
“Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one and said, “I have given help to one who is mighty; I
have exalted (Preeminent/Distinguished) one chosen from the people. I have found My servant
David; with My holy oil I have anointed him, with whom My hand shall be established; also My arm
shall strengthen him…….Also I will make him (Jesus) My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the
earth (Highest in authority).” (Psalm 89:19-29)
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but
only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Revelation 21:27)
A.
Jesus created all things in the beginning and by His work on the cross all things will be made
new at the end of the age. Sin brought corruption and death into the created order. Jesus came
to remove the corrupting effects of sin and the fruit of death at the cross. He Himself bore the
sins of the nations so that those who chose Him could be renewed now in their spirits. He rose
from the dead in a renewed and everlasting body after 3 days of being in the grave. He is the
first man ever to experience an immortal body and He has made a way for us to receive an
immortal and glorified body at the resurrection of the dead. Jesus initiated a new season for
all creation.
B.
The Father revealed this truth in a vision in Psalm 89. David foreshadowed the coming
Messiah and fulfills many of the Messianic prophecies in part. Jesus is the complete fulfillment
of this Psalm and the other Messianic Psalms. The Father revealed that Jesus would be exalted
among the people and that He would be firstborn and ruler of the kings of the earth.
C.
He conquered death and brought about a resurrection power. He is the first reborn Man among
many others that will rise from the dead at His 2nd coming. He is the only man with a
resurrected body right now. Jesus initiated a new age of resurrection. He is the beginning of a
new age of resurrection. He is the beginning and the firstborn. He is the first One or the Chief
of the resurrection that He might have preeminence in all things.
1.
2.
3.
4.
He will resurrect every Christian’s body at His coming.
He will renew every sphere of the earth during His 1,000 year reign on the earth.
He will renew the heavens and the earth at the end of the Millennium.
He has resurrected our spirits and is renewing our souls day by day.
D.
He is the first born from the dead. He has all rights to the inheritance of our Father. The
firstborn has rights and leadership over the inheritance of the Father. The firstborn had the
rights as the leader over the family. Jesus will be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters
in resurrected bodies. The inheritance is every nation, every human, every creature and all of
created order. Jesus is the chief possessor of everything. He has the chief responsibilities to
release all of the resurrection power for every human body and every area of the earth. Jesus
will be the source of power for every single resurrection.
E.
He will raise billions from the dead all over the earth. Jesus will release such an enormous
amount of power that it will lift billions of bodies from the depths of the earth, the sea and pick
them up into the air. He will then strike each body and make it new and supernatural. He will
be the source of power to renew the earth in all its supernatural qualities over 1,000 year
period. Jesus is the primary source of resurrection life, primary possessor of every resurrected
thing and primary leader of the unfolding of the resurrection and renewal process.
G.
Jesus has a book with every citizen’s name in heaven written in it. It is called the Lamb’s Book
of Life. He knows every person that has entered into life or will enter into life. He will
distribute eternal life (length of time and quality of existence) to all those written in His book.
He is in charge of this book. We could call it the book of the resurrection.
H.
Jesus will lead all the nations of the earth in coordination with the angels and resurrected saints.
He will gather His army together before the 7th trumpet so they are prepared to split the heavens
and come to the earth. What will that scene look like?
(Colossians 1:15-18, Psalm 89:27, John 1:14, Acts 2:30, John 11:25, Acts 26:23, Romans 6:5,
1 Corinthians 15:21, Philippians 3:10, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 1:5, Hebrews 12:23,
Deuteronomy 21:17, Genesis 25:31, Exodus 4:22, Revelation 21:27)
4. He is the Chief Conqueror Over Sin, Satan and Death and the Chief of God’s Army
“Who is she (Church) who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as
an army with banners? (Song 6:10)
“We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!” (Psalm
20:5)
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immorality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:44,
Hosea 13:14).
A.
Jesus is the victor over sin and death. Banners represented a victorious army. He is the banner
high and lifted up. He defeated sin, Satan and death through His mission. He alone unravels
the scroll of human history. Jesus faced the devil in the wilderness and conquered every
temptation brought against Him. He walked through oppression in the desert and came out
victorious. Jesus conquered the power of sin by living sinless His entire life and then He
conquered all darkness on the cross. Jesus broke the power of sin over His creation. He came
out of the grave and conquered physical death and He took all spiritual authority from the
kingdom of darkness for Himself and His people. Jesus disarmed every principality and power
in the heavens through His life, death, resurrection, ascension and will fully manifest it at His
2nd coming.
(Colossians 2:14-15, Revelation 1:18, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 Psalm 20:5, Song 6:10, Psalm
60:4, Isaiah 13:2, Colossians 1:18, 2:15, Revelation 19:15, Matthew 28:18, Hebrews 2:8,
2:12, 14, Acts 10:38, 1 John 3:8,)
B.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. He came to wage war on all the oppression
brought about by the devil. (Acts 10:38, 1 John 3:8)
C.
He alone has the authority, wisdom, humility and resources to unfold the Father’s plans with
precision. He will bring the heavens and the earth together, remove all evil and awaken a
remnant of lovesick people without violating anyone’s free will.
D.
He is the Captain of the hosts of heaven. He is the Captain of the heavenly army. He directs
angels of every order to war in the heavens. He will gather His army together at His 2nd
coming and He will wage literal war on every person and demon of the antichrist empire. Jesus
will hold tribunals for every enemy soldier that does not die at His coming and He will remove
every army and weapon from the earth. (Joshua 5:14-15, Isaiah 55:4, Micah 2:13, Revelation
19:14)
E.
Jesus’ angels will culminate their battle in the heavens that will result in Satan’s dethronement
from the heavens along with every demon. They will loose a tremendous battle and be cast to
the earth. The next stage of battle will be Jesus’ physical 2nd coming. He will have the
antichrist and the false prophet captured and thrown into the lake of fire and then Satan will be
bound in prison for 1,000 years. The last battle will be at the end of the Millennium when
Jesus will destroy the last remnant of rebels and throw Satan into the lake of fire. He will fully
manifest the victory on the cross at the end of the His 1,000 year millennial reign on the earth.
F.
Jesus came to remove every enemy of intimacy. He had great desire to remove every single
hindrance between Him and His creation and came to the earth because of it. Desire fueled His
warfare. He is using His power and resources to remove sin in us individually and corporately
all the time. Jesus is very active against sin and demonic oppression. He is still at war with
those two things. He will remove every trace of sin in the last days when He returns. His eyes
are eyes of fire because of His desire for a pure connection with His people. Nothing will stand
in His way as He conquers all evil. Jesus is jealous for every area of the hearts of His people.
He calls us to battle daily as soldiers. He said to war against the lusts of our flesh.
5. He is the Chief Administrator
“Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship (administration) from God (Jesus) which
was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages….”
(Colossians 1:25)
“In Him (Christ) also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of
Him who works (works actively) all things according to the counsel of His will (plans of the Father’s
heart)” (Ephesians 1:11)
“And I saw in the right hand of Him (Father) who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the
back, sealed with seven seals………then He (Jesus) came and took the scroll out of the right hand of
the Him who sat on the throne……….Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals…”
(Revelation 5:1-6:1)
A.
He is the chief administrator of the plans of the Godhead for all created order. We see Jesus
taking a scroll from the Father at the end of the age and administrating the release of the events
of the book of Revelation. The Father has given all authority to His Son and has made Him the
primary heir of all things. Jesus takes the dreams and plans of the Father’s heart and makes
them manifest under His leadership. He has been given responsibility to bring His Father’s
dreams to fruition in real space and time.
(Revelation 5:1-7, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:25, Proverbs 33:11, Jeremiah 51:29, Daniel
7:13-14, Psalm 8:6)
6. He is the Chief Worship Leader
“He (Jesus) is not ashamed to call them (believers) brethren, saying: “I will declare Your name
(Father’s heart) to My (Jesus) brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You” (Psalm
22:22, Hebrews 2:11-12)
A.
He is the Chief Musician. Jesus is the primary worship leader that leads the nations in worship
to the Father. He leads now by the Spirit but He will lead us in Person when He returns to the
earth. He stands among His brethren and declares the name of the Father with pure revelation.
He stands in the midst of the assembly of believers and sings praises to His Father. He is the
creator of worship, music, instruments, songs and praises.
B.
The Spirit is taking what is Jesus’ and making it known to the Church world-wide. The Spirit
is declaring the heart of the Father to the Church and orchestrating worship to the Father on
behalf of Jesus. One day, Jesus will physically stand in the assembly in His glorious earthly
temple and worship the Father in praises. He will sing of the beauty of His heart and His
purposes and the saints will follow Him into deep revelations and praises. He is committed to
orchestrating global worship unto His Father. Jesus releases songs, choruses and melodies to
the Church on the earth even now. Worship songs will be a major way that the Spirit of
prophecy is manifested in the Church. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of what is on
Jesus’ heart. Jesus will reveal what is on His heart by the Spirit and many will have worship
songs that reflect Him.
(Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26, Luke 10:21-22)
C.
Worship is intimate and eternal if even the eternal Son worships the Father.
D.
Jesus will have a great worshipping Church all over the globe before His return.
7. He is the Chief Apostle
“Therefore holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
confession, Christ Jesus.” (Hebrews 3:1)
“I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent me is true; and I speak to the
world those things which I heard from Him.” (John 8:26)
“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
A.
He was the first and greatest ambassador of the Good News of the Father. He was sent by the
Father on a mission to restore humanity to God. Jesus was sent as a prophetic messenger from
heaven. He spoke things that were from above. He was a sent messenger from the Father to all
of creation. Jesus was sent by the Father on a specific mission and Jesus did not relent nor
waiver until His mission was completed. The most significant part of His mission was to lay
down His life on the cross. Jesus prophesied of many things including the coming kingdom,
the judgment seat, the resurrection from the dead and the restoration of creation. Jesus also
came to initiate a new covenant in which mankind could be forgiven and receive the Spirit of
God in their spirits.
1.
2.
Jesus was sent from the Father as a messenger. This is highlighted in the book of John
42 times. (Matthew 10:40, Matthew 15:24, Matthew 21:17, Mark 9:37, Luke 4:18,
Isaiah 61, Luke 4:43, Luke 9:48, Luke 10:16, John 3:17, John 4:34, John 5:23, 24,
30, 36, 37, 38, John 6:29, 38, 39, 40, 44, 57, John 7:16, 18, 28, 33, John 8:16, 18, 26,
29, 42, John 9:1, John 10:36, John 11:42, John 12:44, 45, 49, John 13:20, John
14:24, John 15:21, John 16:5, John 17:3, 18, 21, 23, 25, John 20:21, Acts 3:26,
10:36)
Jesus established a foundation for the Church as the first apostle.
3.
Jesus sent out many more apostles to be messengers of the heart and plans of God to the
nations. The apostles were to walk in power and to preach the coming kingdom.
(Matthew 10:5, Luke 9:2, Luke 10:1, John 13:20, John 17:18, John 20:2),
8. He is the Chief Intercessor and Priest
“Therefore holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
confession, Christ Jesus.” (Hebrews 3:1)
“Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always
lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
A.
Jesus forever lives to make intercession as our High Priest. He is a priest in the line of
Melchizedek forever. He made a way for us to come into the heavenly temple through His
blood and sacrifice. He is a priest on His throne. He lives in the heavenly temple and He will
forever govern from His throne as a priest. He has redeemed us to God and made us priests
forever.
B.
Jesus is the High Priest forever. He lived a perfect life and became the cleansing and atoning
sacrifice that the Old Testament revealed. The high priests in those days could only come into
the holy of holies one time per year on behalf of the people when the atoning sacrifice was
made. Jesus was the priest and the sacrifice. His blood atones for the sins of those that believe,
grants to them the righteousness of God and full access into the holy of holies whenever they
desire to meet with God.
C.
Jesus lives to make intercession. He makes real requests in prayer before the Father for the
nations. Jesus rules through His own prayers and declarations and He rules through His church
through their prayers. Jesus is praying for us right now. He will lead a great prayer movement
at the end of the age as seen in the book of Revelation. Chapters 5-22 describe Jesus as taking
the title deed of heaven and earth and manifesting His rulership through His people’s prayers in
heaven and on the earth.
D.
He is the great intercessor that stood in the gap between God and man on the cross. He made
intercession for His creation on the cross. He reveals His prayer life in great detail in John 17.
(Hebrews 3:1, 7:25, John 17)
9. He is the Chief Cornerstone
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22)
“Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief
cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in
whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:20-22)
“That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth – in Him.” (Ephesians 1:10)
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things
to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood
of His cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)
A.
The Jewish faith centered on the temple of God that was in Jerusalem throughout their history.
Much of their faith and religious activities revolved around the temple. The glory of God
dwelled in the temple. All of the sacrifices, offerings and priestly ministries were done at the
temple. Israel, as a nation, was called to be a nation of priests. The temple was the place where
God dwelled with His people. The people connected with God in the temple. All throughout
their history, the temple of God was the most important thing to maintain and to rebuild. It
signified that God was with them, that He was their God and they were His people.
B.
The most important part of the building was the cornerstone. It was a strong stone placed under
each corner of the building. It was the main support of the foundation and of the entire
building. It was the most prominent in strength, beauty and support. It was the corner piece
that connected walls. The angles of the building were determined by the cornerstone. If the
stone was weak the entire building would be weak and insecure. The chief cornerstone was the
most important of the cornerstones. It was prominent and many times important documents or
items were placed in the corner that was held up by the chief cornerstone. It was the first
corner that determined all the other angles.
C.
The glory of God dwells in every believer’s spirit and corporately the Church makes up the
dwelling place of God in the Spirit. The teachings of the New Testament apostles and Old
Testament prophets are the foundation of the dwelling place of God. Jesus is the primary
support of the foundation and dwelling place of God. He is the source of the entire building
and He determines the precise ways that each piece fits together. The entire building is
centered on Him. The prophets and apostles spoke about Jesus’ work on the cross and His
coming work of restoration at His 2nd coming.
D.
Jesus is the primary support of the foundation and building because of His divinity, life on the
earth and His work on the cross. He became a Man and reconciled God and man together
through His cross. All of humanity that comes to the Father only comes to the Father because
of Jesus’ life and death. Because Jesus was fully God and fully man, He could be the mediator
between God and man on the cross. God came into a human body as a dwelling place in Jesus
and Jesus made it possible for each of us to contain God in our bodies. Some early traditions
say that ungodly nations sacrificed and buried a human body under the cornerstone for divine
power. Jesus’ sacrifice is the divine support.
E.
His divinity, life on the earth and work on the cross are the eternal support structure for the
dwelling place of God. There is no other foundation that man can build to achieve what Jesus
achieved. There is no other legal ground to stand on but the work of the cross. There is no
other support to stand on but the divinity of Jesus. It is His divine power that leads the Church
even now as a dwelling place and it his divine power that will cause the heavens and earth to be
joined fully. He is working to bring to two realms together as dwelling place for God and man.
C.
Isaiah and David prophesied of Jesus’ coming and His role as the chief cornerstone. They
prophesied of the Messiah to come who would be the sure way of salvation and the one that
would bring the heavenly and earthly realms together again to fulfill Abraham’s covenant.
David said the religious leaders of Jesus’ day would not receive Jesus’ words and work. He
said the builders of the dwelling place of God would reject Jesus as the primary support of the
dwelling place of God. These references speak of them rejecting His identity, teachings and
His work on the cross.
D.
He is the Chief Cornerstone of the house of God and He is forming the human race into a
dwelling place for God. In Him the earthly and heavenly realms will be brought together again
as a resting place for God. He will be the connecting point between the earth and the New
Jerusalem during the millennium. His throne will transcend both realms. It will be on the earth
in the earthly Jerusalem temple and in the heavens in the New Jerusalem temple.
E.
He is the precious cornerstone that has brought Jew and Gentile together. He has reconciled all
the nations together in Him. Each nation is being fitted together in the promises of Israel and
the work of Jesus in divine unity.
(Hebrews 3:1, Ephesians 2:20-21, Ephesians 1:9-10, 1 Peter 2:6-7, Psalm 118:22, Isaiah
28:16, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, Romans 9:33, Ephesians 1:9-11,
Colossian 1:19-20 )
10. He is the Chief Shepherd of the Flock of God
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the niety-nine in the
wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4)
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd of the
sheep, through the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will.”
(Hebrews 13:20).
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers……and when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” (1 Peter 5:3-4)
“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for
the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of
waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:16-17)
A.
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd that raises up the shepherd leaders all over the earth. He is pastor
to His people. He guides, feeds and protects His sheep. He is the One that guides us with
direction. He guides our hearts through misunderstandings and trials. He knows the spiritual
foods that will satisfy us and nourish us and the living waters that will revive us. He protects us
from predators that seek to kill and destroy us. Hireling shepherds only work the flocks for the
money but a true shepherd gives his life to protect the sheep.
B.
He cares deeply and came on the cross as a shepherd. Jesus guides us with His voice for His
sheep know His voice. He protects us from the attacks of the enemy like a shepherd would
with a wolf. He leads us to safe places during intense times of heat and pressure like the shade
for the sheep at noon day.
1.
He cares for us – Jesus has great desire for His sheep. He has great affection for each
individual person in the world. He pursues unbelievers as lost sheep with great passion
and He celebrates their repentance in heaven. He pursues believer’s hearts to awaken
them in love with great passion. Each person is so valuable to Him. He goes after one
little sheep when it strays away. He goes after weak, broken and rebellious individuals
all over the world. He has an invested interest in us because that’s what He is like.
He seeks out repentance in various areas when believers are in known or unknown sin.
He seeks to remove those areas from our hearts. Jesus cares so much for His people
that He surrendered all of His rights to save them from sin and death forever. Jesus is
the good shepherd that died for His sheep so that they might be saved.
2.
He leads us to food and water – Jesus leads us to spiritual nourishment. He knows
what will fill our spirits and give us life. He himself is the bread of life and the Spirit is
a river of living waters within us. He has plans for our hearts and He takes us on
journeys into truths of who He is at key times. He pointed out the pathways to spiritual
food in the Sermon on the Mount. He beckons us to go down those paths and to feast
on the revelation of God. He sends refreshing to us when we need it. He wants us to
feast on Him in prayer. He does not want us to be malnourished.
3.
He leads us with vision, purpose and directives – Jesus reveals the big picture of
where He is taking the earth as we cooperate with Him. He reveals the knowledge of
His will for the globe and for us as individuals. He continually set eternity and the next
age before those He preached to. He gave them a vision for eternity. He revealed to
them the purpose of existence. Jesus gave us our purpose in the 1st commandment. He
said that we should grow in our love for God as our first priority and then He said in
John 17:3 that eternal life was to know Him intimately. He plumb lines our vision for
life when we get off track if we ask Him. He realigns us to what is lasting and the
things that are coming. He is giving vision to the Church in our generation for the
unique things that will surround Jesus’ coming after the great tribulation.
4.
He protects us from danger – Jesus died for us to rescue us from danger and death.
Then He pursued us when we were lost and found us. He carried us on His shoulder
and brought us back to Himself. Jesus warns us of the attacks of the enemy by the
Spirit and He warns us of sin and attack through the Word of God and fellow believers
and leaders. He warns us of the danger of sins and the danger of circumstances that
cause sin. He also protects us in the spiritual and the natural. He commands angels to
guard us from danger or to rescue us from attacks. He delivers us from demonic
oppression at times or He changes natural circumstances because we cry out to Him.
Jesus does many things without us ever knowing they were done. There are wolves
seeking to devour us.
He leads us to shade during the intense times of trials and persecutions when the sun is
hot. He causes us to rest in His shade in increased measures during those times.
5.
He directs us with His voice in our lives and in our hearts – Jesus speaks to us and
pastors our hearts through situations. He wants to dialogue with us about what is going
on in our hearts. He has much counsel and insight into our hearts and situations if we
would ask Him. He speaks prophetically through whispers, His Word, dreams and
prophetic words to direct us in our lives.
6.
He leads us through the leaders in our lives – Jesus is the Chief Shepherd over all the
shepherds of the earth. He delegates authority to leaders in our lives and He leads us in
part through their teachings, encouragements, warnings, corrections, counsel and
prayers.
(1 Peter 5:4, 1 Peter 2:25, Hebrews 13:20, John 10:1-29, Revelation 7:17, Song 1:5-8, Psalm
23, Isaiah 40:11, Jeremiah 31:10, Ezekiel 34:5-8, 34:12, 34:15, 37:24, Zechariah 10:2,
Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 9:6, Matthew 25:32, 26:31, Luke 15:1-7 )
V.
MY BELOVED IS THE CHIEF AMONG TEN THOUSAND
A.
Ten thousand literally means ten thousands times ten thousands. Ten thousand is a term meaning an
uncountable number. Daniel 7 and Revelation 5 say 10,000 times 10,000 of angels are in heaven. This
means there are an uncountable number of angels in heaven. There are an uncountable number of
humans, angels and creatures in the universe. Out of all of them, Jesus is the Chief. He is the firstborn
from the dead among many brethren. He stands out among all of creation in His beauty, worth,
wisdom, power and humility.
B.
No other created thing compares to Him. He is the Chief among ten thousand. Even now He sits on
His heavenly throne surrounded by ten thousands of saints and angels. They worship Him as the only
One worthy. He is the only One worthy to be King over heaven and earth. He is the only Man worthy
of worship. He is the source of all life. He will appear in the sky at His 2nd coming and He will stand
out among the thousands of saints and angels that come with Him. He will be the sign from heaven.
(Genesis 24:60, Leviticus 26:8, 1 Samuel 18:7, 1 Samuel 29:5, Micah 6:7, Daniel 7:10, Revelation
5:11, Hebrews 12:22, Jude 1:14).